Aircraft were set to begin spraying chemicals in parts of Monterey County on Sunday night in an effort to eradicate the non-native apple moth – despite the objections of some residents and environmentalists.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture planned to begin spraying parts of the county with a pheromone that confuses male apple moths and impairs their ability to mate, officials said.

Light brown apple moths, which feed on more than 250 varieties of plants, have been found recently in 11 central and Northern California counties. If the native Australian species becomes established in California, officials estimate crop damage could range from $160 million to $640 million a year.

Residential areas in Marina, Seaside, Sand City, Monterey, Pacific Grove and parts of Pebble Beach were all slated to be included in the spraying area over the next three nights.

Environmentalists and residents have voiced concern that the chemical may not be safe for humans or the county’s monarch butterfly and marine wildlife populations.

About a dozen protesters opposed to the spraying gathered in a Seaside park Sunday dressed in white jumpsuits with “don’t spray” painted on the front.

State officials say the pheromone has no known side effects but have warned residents in spraying areas to stay indoors when the chemical is released.

– Associated Press
OAKLAND

Black Muslim Bakery

headquarters for sale

Dogged by legal and financial woes, the headquarters of the Your Black Muslim Bakery franchise has been put up for sale.

Your Black Muslim Bakery was founded nearly 40 years ago by Yusuf Bey with the goal of providing support and a haven for Oakland’s poor, and had grown to include a security service, a school and other businesses.

But the organization’s woes came to a head in early August when Oakland police raided the bakery’s properties in connection with a number of serious crimes, including the killing of Oakland Post Editor Chauncey Bailey.

Among a group of men arrested was Devaughndre Broussard, a handyman charged with Bailey’s slaying. Police said Broussard confessed to Bailey’s brazen daytime killing, but the handyman’s attorney said the statements were coerced. The organization’s current CEO, Yusuf Bey IV, was also arrested on unrelated kidnapping and assault charges.

The Oakland headquarters of the group has been listed for $899,000. Your Black Muslim Bakery was ordered by a bankruptcy judge earlier this year to liquidate all of its assets after the Bey IV had filed for Chapter 11.

The organization is not affiliated with the Nation of Islam or with other area Muslim groups.

– Associated Press
PALO ALTO

Council to weigh caps

on campaign spending

Voluntary caps on city council campaign spending and contributions would foster a more democratic political environment in Palo Alto, according to some council members who have suggested the idea, but others contend such limits are unnecessary.

Tonight, the city council is slated to discuss proposed caps of $300 on individual contributions and $30,000 total on campaign expenditures.

Candidates who choose to obey the limits would have their $1,949 ballot statement fee paid by the city as an incentive. Legally, the city cannot force candidates to limit spending.

Council members LaDoris Cordell and Peter Drekmeier came up with the plan, which received support at a council committee meeting in July. In 2003, Cordell spent about $2,800 of her own money on her campaign while Drekmeier raised about $36,000 in his 2005 bid, which was more than any other candidate.

Cordell, who will not run for re-election this year, said the more money is infused into campaigns, the less likely it is that people without funds will participate.

“I’m very concerned that democracy be part of the elections,” Cordell said. “I really feel that it’s appropriate to take the insanity out of campaigns.”

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